Tone modifier for musical instruments



Sept. 6, 1955 F. J. TROPPE 2,716,917

TONE MODIFIER FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Feb. 24 1955 United States Patent TONE MODIFIER FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Frederick J. Troppe, Joliet, Ill.

Application February 24, 1953, Serial No. 338,297

3 Claims. (Cl. 84-400) The present invention relates generally to musical instruments and is more particularly directed to an attachment for modifying the volume and tone of a musical instrument.

In a musical instrument, particularly a wind instrument such as an accordion having a sound chamber, the

shape and the disposition of the sound chamber has considerable influence on the quality and volume of the tones produced. To provide means whereby the quality of the tone can be improved or a novel tonal eifect can be produced is the aim of most musicians at some time in their career and the present invention is directed to such means.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel attachment for a musical instrument which is readily mountable on the instrument in position with respect to the sound chamber to produce a novel and pleasing tonal effect. Another object of the invention is to provide such an attachment which is provided with means operable through a swinging movement of the instrument to provide new and improved tonal qualities 1 as well as affecting the volume of the sound produced by the accordion. A further object of this invention is to provide a novel tone modifying attachment for a musical instrument, of the type generally referred to as wind instruments, including an element which is movable in response to the passage of pressure air through the instrument to produce a novel tone quality.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the disclosure progresses with reference to the accom panying drawing wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of an accordion to which an improved tone modifier is applied.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the detachable tone modifier shown in Figure 1, some of the hinged lids being open.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the tone modifier shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of a modified form of the invention.

Figure 5 is a view taken along line 55 in Figure 4.

Broadly, the present invention provides an improved form of tone modifier which is adaptable for use with wind instruments, whether such instruments employ a bellows or the like to produce a passage of air pressure through the instrument, such as an accordion, or are of the horn type wherein the pressure air is produced by the instrumentalist.

One embodiment of this invention is shown in Figures 1-3, wherein a tone modifier 4 is illustrated which is particularly adapted for an accordion 5. The tone moditier 4 comprises a relatively shallow, box-like structure 6 mounting a plurality of hollow cylindrical tubular elements 7 which afford communication between a reedsupporting casing 8 and the atmosphere and serve as a resonating means for the tone produced by the accordion. Mounted on the outer end of each of the tubes 7 is a hinged cover or lid 9 serving as a valve which may be 2,715,917 Patented Sept. 6, 1955 moved relative to its closed position to further modify the tones.

The ordinary accordion, such as the one illustrated, generally includes a bellows 10 which may be expanded and contracted to produce the necessary air for vibrating a number of reed elements (not shown) supported in the casing 8. The passage of the air past the several reed elements is controlled through the usual keyboards 12 and 13. The side of the reed-supporting casing 8 cpposite the bellows 10 is normally enclosed by a shallow housing and grille (not shown) to provide the sound chamber for the vibrating reeds. This shallow housing is generally detachable to provide access to the reeds and, consequently, the substitution of the illustrated sounding chamber 4 for the one normally provided is a simple procedure.

The base 6 of the sounding chamber or tone modifier 4 includes a top 14, a pair of end members 15, and a pair of side members 16 and 17. The end members 15 and the adjoining side member 16 extend downwardly from the top 14 at generally right angles therewith, while the remaining side member 17 is disposed upwardly at an angle with the top to fit along the adjacent edge of the keyboard 12. Each of the end members 15 also includes an opening 18 for receiving a screw 19 to secure the sound chamber to the reed chamber 8 of the accordion.

The top 14 of the tone modifier 6 includes a series of openings 20 which are preferably oblong in shape but which may be of a different configuration, if desired. Each of these openings provides communication between the reed chamber 8 and one of the tubular elements 7 which are mounted on the top 14 in angularly disposed relation thereto. The tubular elements 7 are essentially truncated cylinders which are preferably of equal size and spaced along the base portion 6, although similar elements of various sizes and spacings may well be employed.

Each of the valve lids 9 is connected to its tube 7 for swinging movement relative thereto by means of a hinge 21. The hinge 21 is disposed along the upper portion of the rim of the tubular element 7, considering the accordion in its vertical playing position as viewed in Fig. 1, so that the swaying motion of the accordion player will effect an opening and closing movement of the valves 9. Thus the player is able to vary the volume of the tones being produced on the accordion in a rhythmic manner with pleasing results.

The tubular elements 7 also afford an amplification of the tones produced in that they provide a resonating means for the sound. Consequently, if greater volume is of prime importance the accordion can be held in a position wherein the valves 9 are maintained in open positions. Correspondingly, the maintenance of the valves 9 in their closed position will provide a muting effect, if such is desired.

However, the greatest utility of the present invention is probably in providing a rhythmic changing of the volume and tone through an undulating movement of the valves 9. With a little practice the player is able to effect varying movements of the valves, i. e. with the several valves opening and closing at different times, to produce a novel and pleasing tonal quality on the accordion.

Further modification of the accordion tone may be achieved by fixing an apertured closure disc 22 within each of the tubular elements 7, preferably just inside the outer end of the tube, as shown in Figure 3. The closure disc 22 also provides a decorative efiect for the sounding chamber 4 when the valves 9 are open.

From the foregoing it is seen that the present invention provides a novel arrangement for modifying and conveying the sounds produced by an accordion, which may be readily attached to the standard types of accordions and which produces a pleasing tonal effect. Moreover, the disclosed structure afiords additional advantages in its ease of operation and the interesting visual effect produced through such operation. In the ordinary use of an accordion, as a solo means of entertainment, the latter feature is of considerable importance in holding the interest and attention of the audience.

As indicated previously, the principles of this invention are also applicable to a tone modifier for use with brass instruments, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. In this modified embodiment there is illustrated a tone modifier 25 which is removably inserted in the outer end of the horn 26 of a brass instrument 27. The tone modifier 25 is similar in many respects to the previously described tubular elements 7 of the accordion-type tone modifier 4, and includes a tubular body 28 which in this instance is a complete cylinder having a reduced inner end portion 29 fixed thereto and shaped to conform with the flared opening at the end of the instrument 27. This inner end portion or adapter 29 may not be needed for certain brass instruments and suitable variations of the adapter portion 29 may be provided for other brass instruments.

The tube 28 includes a cover or lid 30, attached to the outer end thereof by a hinge 31, and an aperture closure disc 32 which are similar to the lid 9 and closure disc 22 of the previously described embodiment. is also included along an intermediate portion of the tone modifier 25 a rotatable element or propeller 33 comprising a circular disc 34 which is mounted for rotation about its transverse axis, as by means of a spindle or axle 35 fixed to the disc 34 and journalled at its opposite end portions in a pair of cavities or depressions 36 formed in the side walls of the tube 28. The circular disc 34 conforms generally with the inner dimension of the tube 28 and is preferably curved on opposite sides of the spindle 35 as seen in Figure 4. The movement of the tone-carrying air waves through the horn 26 and the tube 28 will create sufiicient air pressure to rotate the disc 22 and thereby effect a pleasing modification of the quality of the tone.

Further modification of the volume and tonal quality of i tively, and the apertured closure disc 22 may be omitted. 1

Then too, the base portion 6 of the tone modifier 4 may be shaped differently to fit other accordion-type instruments.

Certain modifications will also be apparent with respect to the tone modifier 25 for brass instruments. For ex- There L.-

ample, the hinged lid 30, the closure disc 32 and the propeller 33 may be used in varying combinations, with one or more of these parts omitted.

I claim:

1. In an accordion having a bellows, a reed-mounting panel adjacent one end of the bellows, and having means for selectively controlling the passage of air from the bellows through the reed-mounting panel including a keyboard disposed adjacent the latter, an improved resonating chamber for enclosing the side of the reed-mounting panel opposite said bellows and adjacent said keyboard, said chamber comprising a generally shallow housing having a plurality of openings along the outer surface thereof, a hollow cylindrical tube surrounding each of said openings and extending outwardly from said housing, the axis of each of said tubes intersecting the plane of said keyboard. and valve means disposed in covering relation to the outer end of each of said tubes for controlling the passage of sound from within the housing, said valve means comprising a lid having an edge portion thereof hingedly mounted at the outer end of said tube for swinging movement to and from a position closing the opening at said outer end, all of said lids being similarly hingedly connected to their respective tube at a position intermediate the transverse horizontal and vertical axes and above the transverse horizontal axis of said tube, as determined when the accordion is in its upright operative position with the bellows expandable in a generally horizontal direction, whereby a generally lateral swinging movement of the accordion will effect a substantially simultaneous movement of said lids relative to said tubes through generally parallel paths.

2. An accordion as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said tubes is provided with an apertured closure disposed adjacent the outer end portion of said tube in generally transverse relation to the longitudinal axis thereof.

3. An accordion as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said tubes includes a rotatable member conforming generally in size with a transverse section of said tube and supported therein for rotation about an axis extending generally transversely of the tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENT S 282,448 Ditterline July 31, 1883 394,650 Hohner July 28, 1908 1,430,175 Mazzeri Sept. 26, 1922 2,502,085 Frontalini Mar. 28, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 141,945 Germany June 10, 1903 558,274 Germany Sept. 5, 1932 47,498 Austria Apr. 10, 1911 579,875 France Aug. 16, 1924 

